The first meaning of the term totem collected by the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) refers to the object or being that, in some municipalities, was considered the parent or protector of the group.
The totem, in this way, was linked to the origin of the tribe. In other words: the members of the clan, according to this mythology, descend from the totem in question, which can be anything from an inert object to a plant or an animal. The term totem pole originated in the language of the Ojibwa, a Native American people who are among the largest on the continent, and was used by the Indians to refer to a specific class of monument that is easy to find today. neighborhood on the Pacific Ocean coast of North America.
The set of beliefs and expressions related to a totem is known as totemism. This notion includes ideas, actions and rituals that refer to the way in which peoples are linked to their totem. Although it is a word from Ojibwa culture, totemism can also be seen in the development of societies in various parts of the world, throughout various eras. It is important to note that the sculpture that represents the totem pole is also known as a totem pole. Thus, when speaking of a totem, we can refer to a wooden or stone object to which a culture has attributed a mystical power or a supernatural condition. In general, the wood chosen for the totems was cedar, since this tree has great resistance and durability, ideal for the construction of a monument that will be outdoors, having to withstand storms and floods, extreme cold and heat. The body of the totem usually shows one or more characters that serve to declare the status or position of the chieftain of the tribe. The totem is not only an icon that symbolizes the tribe as a whole, but the mythology of certain cultures has also used this figure to symbolically represent the individual. In any case, the totem can be associated with a large number of meanings and attributes for the beings to which it is linked. Although animals are exploited in many ways by humans, both for forced labor that we cannot or do not want to do, and to feed on their meat, our extreme nature has led certain cultures to choose one or more species to worship them. they were gods. Some North American tribes believe that animals possess qualities that represent spiritual powers or supernatural forces.
Among the species worshiped are the wolf, the eagle, the falcon, the bison, the badger and the bear, which are part of many totems. Interestingly, any figure that stands on a winged figure (such as a bird) usually represents beings superior to humans, deities. Tótem is also the name of a Uruguayan musical group that performed between 1971 and 1973. This band, which included Rubén Rada among its members, released three albums. “Totem”, on the other hand, is the name of a song that Rush released in 1996 as part of the “Test for echo” album. It is also the title of two comic strips: one from Argentina and the other from Spain. Finally, it is known as a totem, the poster that is installed at a public transport stop with information on routes, schedules, etc.
